Ally-saurus & the Very Bossy Monster

by Richard Torrey

Overview

What happens when a bossy new girl tries to make everyone play by her rules?
Ally-saurus is back—and ROARING louder than ever!
Ally-saurus and her friends always have lots of fun playing pretend. They stomp, they roar, they dance, each in their own way. But new girl Maddie wants everyone to play by HER rules. “Monsters can’t be dinosaurs or dancers,” she insists. Worst of all, she won’t let little Petey have his teddy bear! Can Ally-saurus help Maddie understand that bossiness is no fun at all?  With charm and humor, Richard Torrey teaches a gentle lesson in respecting each other’s differences . . . and playing nice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454921233
Publisher:	Sterling Children's Books
Publication date:	08/08/2017
Series:	Ally-saurus Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	611,195
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Richard Torrey is an author, artist, and editorial cartoonist. He has written and illustrated eight books, including Sterling’s Ally-saurus & the First Day of School; the popular Beans Baker series for Random House; and the three-book series Almost, Why? and Because for HarperCollins. He has also illustrated dozens of books for Simon & Schuster, Golden Books, McGraw-Hill, and Scholastic; had his art published in Highlights magazine, KidCity, and Inside Sports; and created a successful line of greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings. Richard lives with his wife and children in Shoreham, NY. You can learn more about him at richardtorrey.com.

Editorial Reviews

07/17/2017
Ally still loves dinosaurs in this follow-up to Ally-saurus & the First Day of School, and Torrey again outfits her with a pink-outlined tail and spikes—all the better for her to live out her imaginary double life as Ally-saurus. Her friend Kai’s purple top hat and tuxedo similarly reflect his dreams of being a star dancer, but the children’s patience is tested by new neighbor Maddie, who insists on everything being done her way: “If you’re going to play monsters, you have to follow the rules!” (Torrey draws Maddie as a green “queen monster,” a role she seems born to play.) But Ally-saurus’s big roar proves effective in democratizing the children’s playtime: it’s a story that advocates for defending one’s passions and running wild with them. Ages 3–6. Agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, Herman Agency. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Ally-saurus & the First Day of School:
 
*“Torrey nicely tackles lots of first-day issues in this imaginative offering . . . and he does so with aplomb. Pastel backgrounds make the multiethnic figures stand out, especially their brightly colored imagined costumes. Ally is an empathetic guide for young children facing their own first days, no matter what or who they imagine themselves to be.” —Kirkus Reviews (STARRED)

“The children’s make-believe accouterments create a fun visual effect, delivering bright pops of color against Torrey’s b&w pencil drawings while simultaneously demonstrating the way children’s passions loom large in their lives.” —Publishers Weekly (STARRED)

“Ally is an ebullient heroine, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Torrey’s true-to-life story is matched by his pencil, watercolor, and digital media that catch all the fun (e.g., crayon marks denote Ally’s make-believe dino spikes). The oversize format and right-on message make this a good story hour choice.” —Booklist

From the Publisher

2017-05-24
The tiny tot-turned-dinosaur (in her imagination) is back, this time facing a new challenge: a domineering friend. Ally, or as she likes to be called "Ally-saurus," can't wait to play outside. After brushing her straight black hair into pigtails and chomping on her breakfast (things dinosaurs do not particularly like to do), she roars and stomps to meet her friends. As in the first outing (Ally-Saurus and the First Day of School, 2015) Torrey uses rough crayoned markings to signify the characters' innermost passions, an enormously effective visual device. Ally has pink dinosaur spikes down her back to go along with her pink "ROAR!" Her friend Kai dances across a grand stage (the porch) in a purple top hat and tails, shouting, "TA-DA!" Kai's little brother, Petey, clutches a yellow teddy and triumphantly yells, "BEAR!" But when Maddie shows up, everything changes. Maddie likes to tell everyone what to do. She decides the group will play monsters. She will be the queen monster (with her imagined crown and shaggy suit, she is reminiscent of another youngster who likes wild rumpuses). But when it gets to be too much, Ally-saurus' "ROARRRRRRRRRR!" protects all her friends. It gives her the courage to stand up to Maddie once and for all. All the children have paper-white skin; Maddie's hair is in a light pageboy, and Kai's and Petey's hair is close-cropped, black, and tightly curled, suggesting that they are black. A message for the bossiest of friends but also a quiet lesson in valuing differences. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews